Both of same



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.v

A. G. WOOLLEY.

ELECTRIC ALARM CLOCK.

No. 369,672. Patented Sept. 6, 1887.

Grief/net 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No-Model.)

A. e. WO OLLEYV ELECTRIC ALARM CLOCK.-

No. 369,672. Patented Sept. 6, 1887 BeTL.

Jn-nunei ale-v,

' u. PETERS, Mmww. wmmm. a. c.

UNITED STATES AMOS e. WOOLLEY,

PATENT, Orrrce.

RICHARD WOOLLEY, JR, AND EDGAR M. VVOOLLEY BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC ALARM-CLOCK.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,672, dated September 6, 1887.

Application filed September 16, 1886. Serial No. 213,694.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AMos G. WOOLLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Alarm Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesto that class of devices in whichthe mechanism of atime-piece is used for closing the circuit to one or any number of electric alarm devices. Its object is a simple and reliable arrangement of devices by whichan alarm may be sounded at one or any numis her of points, at the time -piece or at a distance from it, and at any predetermined time or times that may be desired, the whole being under the control of the time-piece.

The invention will be first fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are represented by similar refe'renceletters wherever they occur throughout the various views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the clock and the switching devices. Fig. 2 is a diametrical sectional view, upon an enlarged scale, taken through the switch-dial. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the electrical connections as they appear on a plane taken in the rear of the clock dial. Fig. 4. is a side elevation, drawn to full size, of the device by which the time for sounding the alarm in any roomis predetermined. Fig. 5 5 is a rear view of the clock and annunciator and a front elevation of one of the room-bells, showing the electrical connections for giving the different signals.

The clock A is of ordinary construction, ex-

40 cept its dial B and hands 0 D. The body of the dial is made of some insulating material. The face of the dial is either mounted or inlaid with metal segments Eand F,which are in electrical connection with binding-posts e and f, passing through from the back to the dial.

There are twelve of the segments 6, insulated from each other, which correspond to the twelve hours of the dial, and there are four segments f, corresponding to the quarter-hours. The

sists of a metal shaft, J,

No model.)

hands 0 and D are the same as the ordinary 0 hands of a clock, except that they have light metal springs c and d secured at their outer ends,which brush over and bear lightly upon the segments E and F. i

The switch-dials, of which there should be 5 one for each room in the dwelling or hotel, consist each of a circular disk, G, of cbonite or other non-conductor of electricity. These disks are perforated near their outer edge with twelve holes,corresponding to the twelve hours on the dial of the clock, which holes are nu mbered as the dial is. Within this circle are four holes, corresponding to the quarters. upon the dial. Each of these holes is titted with a metal tube, g, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The dial G is centrally perforated and fitted with a metal tube, G. On the inner end of this tube is a short tube, H, of ebonite, in the inner end of which is inserted a metal piece, I, the inner end of whichpiece is perforated, so that its bore corresponds with the bore of the tube G. The tube H is counter-bored upon each end, forming an annular ring or collar, it, against which the opposite ends of the tube G and piece I abut.

The switch or device which is used in connection with the dial to determine the time the alarm shall be sounded in any room cona portion of which is reduced to pass through an ebonite tube, K, the lower end of the shaft being provided with spring-fingers j, to insure electrical connection with the piece I when the shaft is inserted through the tube G of dial G. Upon the enlarged portion of the shaft is pivoted an arm, L,which has projecting from its free end a shaft, Z, the lower end of which is provided with spring-fingers l, to engage in electrical connection with any one of the tubes 9 which are in the perforations around the outer edge 0 of the switch-dial G. Ashorter arm, M, similar to the arm L, is journaled around the ebonite tube K. This has also at its free end a shaft, m, at thelower end of which are springfingers m, to engage in electrical connection withany one of the tubes inserted in the inner portion of the dial-plate G. The journal of this arm M is an extended tube, in, the ex- LII tended end of which snugly fits into the enlarged outer opening of the metal tube G. It will thus be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that the arm L, through one of the tubes g, arm L, shaft J, and piece I, can be connected with one pole of the battery, while arm M, through tubes m" and tube g, may be connected with the opposite pole of the battery, thus in the position shown forming an electrical connection between the two when the circuit is closed by the hands and D coming upon the segments E and F, which correspond in number to the tubesg of the switch-dial G. As the arms L and M of the switch or medium are capable of being set at any hour or quarten hour, as desired, it is evident that the setting of these arms at any predetermined time will insure the sounding of the alarmbell,which is placed in electrical connection with one pole of the battery, at the hour or quarterindicated on the switch-plate.

Referring to Fig. 3, I will now describe the means by which the alarm may be sounded at one or any number of points at any desired distance from the clock, which, when used in a hotel, is located in the office, preferably alongside ot' the annnnciator, the clock and switelrdials being preferably mounted upon a board or foundation, N. The pins or bindingposts e andf on the rear of the dial B are connected by wires 6 and f with tubes 9 on the rear of the switch-dial G. As shown in Fig. 2, these wires are soldered to the end of the tube; but the end of the tube may terminate in a binding-post or an eye for convenience, if desired. The battery-wires 1 and 2 are connected, respectively, to the tubes I and the piece G, and an alarm-bell may be connected at any distance to either one of these wires. If it is desired to use the clock for a dwellinghouse and only one dial-plate is necessary, the alarm can be placed in the servants room and the clock in any part of the house. \Vhere more than one alarm is to be usedas in hotels, for instanceseparate switclr dials can be arranged upon the board N for each room in the house. The wires from the clock pass to the switch-dial in most convenient proximity to the dial B. From the first switchdial the wires 0 and f pass from the tubes 9 to the corresponding tubes 9 upon the next switch-dial, and from that dial to the one next to it, and so on to alltheswitch-dials in the system. The battery-wire l is carried from the piece I on the first switch-dial to the piece I on the second switch-dial, and so on through the whole system, and thence to the battery, while the wires 2, leading from each of the tubes G, lead to the alarm in the room corresponding in number to the number of the switch-dial and from the alarm to the battery. It is of course understood that if the tubes 5 terminate in binding posts or pins the wires 6, connecting any number of dials, may be one continuous wire wrapped around the binding posts or pins on the correspondinglynumbered tubes on each of the dials; but if thev ordinary binding-post or an eye is used short wires may be used from one of the dials to the other, and in same manner the wire 1 may be wound around the piece I or looped through its eye, so as to bring all these pieces from the separate dials in the circuit.

It is of course understood that a number of switch devices such as Fig. 4t must be provided, so that one may be used with the dial of each room in which an alarm is to be sounded at any time.

It is very convenient in a hotel to have a system of calls by which the clerk may notify the occupant of any room if he be needed at the ofiice, in the gentlemens parlor, or in the ladies parlor at any time. Such system is provided by my arrangement. It is evident thatif a metal rod be inserted into the tube G so that it touches said tube and piece I, the alarm will be sounded in theroom corresponding to the number of the switch-dial so long as the rod remains in contact with the tube G and the piece I. Now, suppose a set of signals be adopted and posted in the different rooms as follows: One signals for the oftice, two signals for the gentlemens parlor, and three signals for the ladies parlor, and so on for any number of signals desired. The clerk, desiring to notify the occupant of the room where he is needed, places the metal rod through tube G until it stops against piece I. This rings a bell in his room until the rod is withdrawn and gives signal No. 1. If he desires to give two signals, he simply withdraws the rod and inserts it again, then with drawing it. Ifhe wants to give three signals, it is again inserted, and so on. I have also provided by my system for return signals from the room to the office, so that the clerk may know whether the occupant has been aroused by the signal, or that he may know whether the occupant is in his room or not at any time desired.

Referring, now, to Fig. 5, I will explain my system of return-signals in combination with the ordinary annunciator now used in hotels, and for this purpose I have simply illustrated the device in connection with one room. The board N in this case has the clock and only one switchdial; but, with relation to what has been before described in connection with Fig. 3, it will be clear to any one skilled in the art how the connections may be made for any number of rooms. 0 and 0 represent two batteries. The wire 1 from the piece I connects with the battery 0, and the wire 2 from tube G connects with the binding-post on bell P, located on top of the clock, thence passing through connects with the bell Q in the room, thence through a short wire and wire 2 with the an nunciator, and through the annunciator by wire 2 to the battery, leaving the bell P out of the circuit. IVhen the alarm is sounded, the bells P and Q ring, and at the same time the number on the annunciator corresponding with the number of the room drops. The clerk then returns the number to its place and waits IOC,

'piece I and any one the signal from the room, which is given by the occupant by pressing upon the push-button B. This rings the bell P and again drops the number on the annunciator. The clerk then knows that the signal has been answered. The pushbutton R closes the circuit from battery 0 by connecting wires 2 and 1 The wire 2 connects with the annunciator and bell P, and the wire 2 leads from the annunciator and bell to the battery 0. When the button R is pushed in to sound bell P and drop the annunciatornumber, the bells l? and Q are out of the circuit.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a system ofcalls and return-calls with an electric annunciator system, and it is also old to provide a system of electric alarms to be automatically sounded at predetermined times by time mechanism.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a time-piece, the combination of the dial having segments E and F, forming the terminals of electric circuits, an alarm mechanism interposed in each of said circuits, and the hands 0 D, having contacts cand d to close the circuit and a switch-such as shown-to complete the circuit at any predetermined time, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, substantially as specified, with the time-piece dial having terminal segments E F, and the circuit closing hands 0 c D d, of the circular switch-dial having terminals corresponding to the'terminals on the dial, and the rotating spindle arms insulated from each other, and adapted, the one to complete the line from the battery to one of the terminals E and the other to complete the opposite line to one of the terminals F;

3. The combination, substantially as specified, of the switch-dial having contacts 9 arranged in two circles around the dial and having the battery-contacts G and I in the axis of the dial, and the switch device composed of rod J and arm L I, to connect the of the outer row of contacts g and arm M m, and tube m, to connect the tube G and any one of the inner row of contacts 9 with an electrical alarm-clock controlling circuit-closers, and abattery whereby an alarm is sounded automatically by the timepiece, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, substantially as specified, of a time-piece having a series of terminals arranged in the path of the hour-hand, and a series of opposite terminals in the path of the minute-hand, with a series of circular switch-dials, as G, having two circular series of contacts corresponding to and all in electrical connection with said terminals, and each having batterycontacts G and I, with a series of alarms located at dilferent points in an electrical circuit, with a switch device such as shown-and the circuit-closing hands of the time-piece to sound one or a number of alarms at the time or times at which the switch device is set.

5. The combination of the time-piece, the dial having terminals E F in the paths respectively of the hour and minute hands, said hands being in electrical connection, a multiple switch, as shown, and a switch device for making circuit-connections with the terminals of the dial, the batteries 0 O, and the annuni ciator, with the bell Qand push-button R, the

whole being arranged to sound an alarm or signal at a point distant from the time-piece and annunciator, and provide for a returnsignal from the point at which the alarm is sounded,substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination of the time-piece, the dial having terminals E F, one series of said terminals being in the path of the hour-hand and the other series in the path of the minutehand, said hands being in electrical connection with each other, a series of multipleswitch dials, as shown, said dials being in electrical connection with each other and the terminals of thedial, switch devices,as shown,for making circuit-connections between the severalswitch-dials and the terminals of the clock-dial, two or more batteries, as O O, and the annunciator, with a series of alarm-bells and pushbuttons arranged in the different rooms of a building, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

7. A multiple switch for making connections in an electrical alarmor signal system, consisting, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, in the combination of dial G, spindle G, piece I, insulator H, and contacts g, with the rod J j, arm L l l, insulator K, arm M m m, and tube m", said arms being journaled, respectively, upon insulator K and rod J.

AMOS G. WUOLLEY.

Attest:

(3130. J. MURRAY, O. W. MILES. 

